Greens medical ailment still a mystery

Friday

Dec 16, 2011 at 12:01 AM

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers told reporters Friday morning that Jeff Green and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge had left the Boston area to see doctors for additional opinions on the medical condition that has kept Green out of full pa

| | Journal Staff

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers told reporters Friday morning thatJeff Green and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge hadleft the Boston area to see doctors for additional opinions on themedical condition that has kept Green out of full participation inpractice.

The Celtics did not have an update on his condition Fridaynight, but CSNNE.com reported that Green was unlikely to be readyfor the start of the season. Ainge said the Celtics were hoping tohave more details Saturday.

Green's health problem was discovered in a physical thatfollowed the signing of a one-year deal worth a reported $9million. Green, who is the Celtics' primary scorer off the bench,has been limited to light shooting at practice so far thisyear.

Rivers told reporters that losing Green would change the gameplan for the Celtics, forcing them to rely more on Marquis Danielsand Sasha Pavlovic as backups at the forward spot.

The Celtics held an intrasquad scrimmage open to season-ticketholders Friday night. Avery Bradley won the game with a basket withless than a second to play, giving the green team a 52-51 win overthe white team. Bradley's winner followed a 3-pointer by rookieE'Twaun Moore that had put the white team in the lead. Chris Wilcoxof the green team led all scorers with 17 points and 10 rebounds,while Moore added 12 points. Brandon Bass had 13 points for thewhite side.

Rajon Rondo, whose status for Sunday's exhibition finale hasbeen in question, started the game for the white team. Rondosprained his ankle last weekend.

In other news Friday, Rivers predicted that his healthy starterswould see more preseason action than usual, beginning Sunday whenthe team visits the Toronto Raptors. Paul Pierce has been ruled outfor the game because of a heel problem.